BIOGRAPHY
Linda is the Co-CEO of Mushroom Music, a progressive independent music company established in 1972. Representing a diverse range of iconic songwriters and catalogues from Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, the company operates on a global scale.
Linda’s career began at APRA in 1990, where she founded the first Writer Services Department in Melbourne. For 23 years, she served as Head of A&R and Creative at Mushroom Music before stepping into her leadership role in 2019.
As Co-CEO, Linda leads a team of innovative thinkers committed to creating meaningful opportunities for songwriters, while fostering sustainable and rewarding careers. They are strong advocates for emerging talent and take pride in nurturing the next generation of artists and writers.
Linda’s passion for music and storytelling has been the driving force behind her work at Mushroom Music. Over the years, she and her team have collaborated with an impressive roster of artists, including Kylie Minogue, Vance Joy, Amy Shark, Julia Jacklin, Missy Higgins, Kehlani, Middle Kids, Wolf Alice, The Teskey Brothers, Emily Wurramara, London Grammar, The Temper Trap, Gordi, Budjerah, Hunters & Collectors, Archie Roach, The Triffids, Yothu Yindi and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among many others.
ELECTION STATEMENT
Linda is an independent music publisher who has consistently safeguarded the interests of songwriters and nurtured emerging talent, while balancing the creative and business aspects of the industry. For over three decades, Linda has worked tirelessly to elevate Australian and international voices, with a particular focus on supporting women and First Nations artists and writers.
Known for her collaborative approach and dedication, Linda has built a career on strong business partnerships and long-standing relationships with artists, writers, and industry colleagues. She is respected for her values, resilience, and commitment to transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in the music community.
BIOGRAPHY
Heath Johns is the President of BMG Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia after joining the German-based multi-national as their inaugural Managing Director in January 2016. During that time and under Heath’s leadership, BMG has signed songwriters including Alison Wonderland, JET, Neil Finn, Chet Faker, Daniel Johns, Ladyhawke, Wolfmother, Tyron Hapi, Winston Surfshirt, Golden Features, What So Not and many more.
Heath holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Marketing from the University of Newcastle where he was also awarded the Newton-John medal in 2019 for extraordinary services to the Arts. Heath is a passionate advocate for Australian and New Zealand songwriters and alongside his broader responsibilities in SEA, Heath developed the BMG Indigenous Music Scholarship which was designed to create music industry pathways for First Nations students.
Heath is a longstanding Director on the AMCOS Board and currently sits on the APRA Board.
ELECTION STATEMENT
I have been grateful to serve on the APRA Board in a short-term capacity and I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to advocate for both songwriters and publishers in such an important forum. As a major player in the music publishing space in Australia and approaching our 10th year in business in the region, I hope I have demonstrated that having BMG at this table is of benefit to songwriters in territory and for the Australian music publishing industry as a whole.
Should I be elected by my peers for another Term, I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue to advance the interests of our songwriters and I’m appreciative of the consideration of my re-nomination. It’s not a privilege that I take lightly.
BIOGRAPHY
Craig is the Director & Financial Controller of Warner Chappell Music Australia, serving on the AMCOS board and as Director and Company Secretary of AMPAL. He also previously served as Alternate Director on the APRA board.
Prior to joining Warner Chappell, Craig had a career in public accounting and business advisory services. He is a CPA, and holds an Honours degree in Law, a Commerce degree and post-graduate qualifications in both Law and Accounting.
In his role at Warner Chappell, Craig is responsible for representing a diverse range of songwriters, from Australian icons such as previous members of Little River Band and Australian Crawl, to current cultural exports Tones & I and Vance Joy and global acts such as Zach Bryan and Dua Lipa.
ELECTION STATEMENT
It’s important the board has a blend of unique perspectives and a diversity in skills. I will help fill gaps in the board’s skills matrix, bringing specialised knowledge in finance, regulatory issues and reporting, as well as experience working with technology and crunching data. It is becoming more important to make sure those gaps are filled as APRA continues its growth trajectory with numbers each year being bigger than the last.
There are ongoing challenges APRA faces in its current environment, and those challenges (such as AI) are increasingly technology focused. With respect to AI and other tech matters, having written and distributed programs and apps personally in the past I have experience that helps understand the processes and how they relate to copyright issues and more importantly the opportunities presented.
I am committed to the mutual interests both writers and publishers of all sizes have in APRA’s performance. We all share in the success, so it’s important that we work together in a considered approach to protect and maximise the value of copyright in our region.
BIOGRAPHY
Simon Moor is the Managing Director of Kobalt Music Publishing APAC and has served on the APRA Board since 2021. He is also a non-executive Director of AMCOS and a board member of AMPAL, reflecting his deep involvement in the Australian and international music publishing industry.
Simon founded Kobalt Music Publishing in Australia and New Zealand in 2010, focusing on developing local talent for global success. Under his leadership, the company worked with renowned artists such as Gotye, Flume (Future Classic), and Dean Lewis. Today, Kobalt’s roster includes artists like Royel Otis, G Flip, Parkway Drive, and Tash Sultana.
In 2016, Simon expanded Kobalt into Asia, establishing operations in Hong Kong and drafting business plans for key markets across the region. He formed strategic partnerships with companies like NetEase Cloud Music and Tencent Music Entertainment, while fostering relationships with performing rights organizations throughout Asia. His deep understanding of local music industries has been critical to Kobalt’s growth and success.
Simon’s career reflects a commitment to supporting artists and songwriters, with a focus on innovation and long-term success across both the Australian, New Zealand and broader global markets.
ELECTION STATEMENT
During my first term as a non-executive board director at APRA, I drew on my extensive experience in the music industry, particularly in music publishing, and my board expertise from serving on the AMCOS and AMPAL boards since 2013 and 2012, respectively. Now seeking re-election for a second term, I am well-positioned to continue contributing and building on the progress already made, further enhancing the success and growth of APRA.
As Managing Director of Kobalt Music APAC, my focus has always been on supporting local songwriters and rights owners, ensuring they thrive both locally and globally. I deeply understand the critical role of a fair and efficient performance rights organization in achieving this success.
Kobalt’s core values—fair remuneration, transparency, and inclusiveness—are closely aligned with those of APRA. Having established Kobalt on these principles, I am confident my expertise will continue to contribute meaningfully to APRA’s ongoing development.
In these unprecedented times, strong governance, strategic foresight, and sound management are essential. I am fully committed to using my experience to drive improved outcomes and advocate for the best interests of songwriters, publishers, and rights owners. It would be an honour to continue serving APRA and contributing to future success.